FIGURAL HILTS -- Bird (Demon)

[ganjawulung]

Originally Posted by Newsteel

You're right BluErf,
Compare this with the recent one I just post (also got it from Sumatra). BluErf can post a good example of Tajong hilt (from Kelantan, Northern Malaysia).

Thanks a lot, Newsteel, BlueErf,

Comparison is one of the best way for me to improve my knowledge on keris. So, thank you once again Newsteel. The comparison of examples you gave, is really a useful lesson to me.

Now I am still trying to search the answer of my own question: why did the people of afar choose the Jawa demam style as the root of their style? Is there any certain philosophy behind it?

The pictures below are only comparison too, on older style of "raksasa" hilt. The older one is a figural hilt which were used in Cirebon -- north coast of Central Java, just neighboring city of Tegal. (Cirebon Sultanate was founded by Sunan Gunungjati in the 16th century -- the same era as Demak Sultanate in north coast of Central Java too). People used to call the hilt style as "Rajamala" (Demon King). This hilt style, of course was not from Northern Peninsula...

And the other illustration, is the later style which is believed developping during King of Kasunanan Surakarta, Paku Buwana IV after he married a madurese noble in 18th century (PB IV 1788-1820). This Solonese rajamala style, is a combination of "nunggak-semi style" (the style which is used in Solo or Surakarta until now) and figural style of older rajamala...